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New medication making piggy sleepy?

Mo & Stubbins & Vani

Mo & Stubbins & Vani

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi! :)
Sorry I post so often!
I check on my guinea pigs and clean their room about 5-6 times a day.
Usually, the piglets nap from about 12 o'clock in the afternoon to around 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
I noticed just now (it's 6 o'clock) that Stubbins has been asleep in the same place since around 12 o'clock.
I was immediately concerned about this behavior and went to look in her hidey pocket. She was asleep and I rubbed her gently until she woke up. Her eyes opened wide, and she looked confused. She sat there for a bit and then walked out slowly. My main concern is that she did not stretch when waking up. Stubbins ALWAYS stretches after a long nap.
She gulped down some water and ate a little bit of hay and then went right back to sleep. The other piggies started to wheek for veggies, but she did not.
As some of you know, she has been sick lately and is on three types of medication currently.
- Vibramycin (0.4CC orally every 12 hours)
- Baytril
- Bene-bac
Is it possible that these medications are making her sleepy?
In humans, I am aware that some medications make people either really sleepy, really hyper, or somewhere in between.
Is Stubbins okay? Is this behavior usual for a sick piglet who is on many different medications?
I am very worried. :(
Thank you!
 
Jamjarpigs said:
Best to give the prescribing vet a call if you're worried.
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Thank you!
I think I'll give the vet a call in the morning.
We were going to schedule an emergency appointment, but Stubbins ate her veggies which was a really good sign. :)
 
It is a good sign. My piggie Bindy is on Baytril at the moment for a URI and at the beginning of her antibiotics I noticed a change in behavior, not eating everything and instead being particular, which is very unusual. But today she must be feeling a bit better as she wasn't as fussy. So all going well you will see an improvement with a bit of time on the Antibiotics.
 
I’ve found Vibramycin (also known as doxycycline) to be a real appetite suppressant, so it may be that she’s not eating much, so low on energy. Baytril also affects appetite too. I’ve never heard of giving that combination but can’t comment, as not sure if it’s okay. Are you syringe feeding?
 
furryfriends (TEAS) said:
I’ve found Vibramycin (also known as doxycycline) to be a real appetite suppressant, so it may be that she’s not eating much, so low on energy. Baytril also affects appetite too. I’ve never heard of giving that combination but can’t comment, as not sure if it’s okay. Are you syringe feeding?
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Thank you! :)
I am not syringe feeding. Should I be, though? I didn't think that her behavior was this serious. I am super worried now. :(
I think that I will call the vet in the morning.
She ate her veggies and some hay and definitely had the energy to run in circles around my room when I tried picking her up for medicine time. :doh:
She is currently sleeping in her hidey pocket once again.
It is super late here, so I will probably call in the morning.
:(
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
Thank you! :)
I am not syringe feeding. Should I be, though? I didn't think that her behavior was this serious. I am super worried now. :(
I think that I will call the vet in the morning.
She ate her veggies and some hay and definitely had the energy to run in circles around my room when I tried picking her up for medicine time. :doh:
She is currently sleeping in her hidey pocket once again.
It is super late here, so I will probably call in the morning.
:(
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I am going to start weighing her daily, as well. :(
 
I just checked on the piggies.
It appears Stubbins had some sort of really wet poop.
I tried feeding her one of her supplement tablets (her favorite) and she only ate half. She drank quite a bit of water and had a little bit of hay. I tried hand feeding her pellets, but she only ate two.
I am crying and so worried about her. :(
It is around 2:00 a.m., should I start syringe-feeding her now? Part of me is heart-broken, and the other part knows that I have to wake up super early and need to get to bed.
What do I do? :(
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
I just checked on the piggies.
It appears Stubbins had some sort of really wet poop.
I tried feeding her one of her supplement tablets (her favorite) and she only ate half. She drank quite a bit of water and had a little bit of hay. I tried hand feeding her pellets, but she only ate two.
I am crying and so worried about her. :(
It is around 2:00 a.m., should I start syringe-feeding her now? Part of me is heart-broken, and the other part knows that I have to wake up super early and need to get to bed.
What do I do? :(
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Wet poop as in fully diarrhoea or just soft poops?

Antibiotics do often upset tummies (hence giving the bene bac). If she isn’t eating enough hay, then yes she needs to be syringe fed (as you’ve said, you’ll need to keep an eye on her weight).

If the poop is soft but formed, then stop giving all veg and just feed her hay and pellets until she stabilises (as I’ve said, the antibiotics can upset tums).
If it is full diarrhoea then she needs to see a vet
 
Piggies&buns said:
Wet poop as in fully diarrhoea or just soft poops?

Antibiotics do often upset tummies (hence giving the bene bac). If she isn’t eating enough hay, then yes she needs to be syringe fed (as you’ve said, you’ll need to keep an eye on her weight).

If the poop is soft but formed, then stop giving all veg and just feed her hay and pellets until she stabilises (as I’ve said, the antibiotics can upset tums).
If it is full diarrhoea then she needs to see a vet
Click to expand...
It was sort of a ball of really wet, sticky poop (not diarrhoea, though).
I can't really tell if she is eating enough hay. She ate her veggies tonight and has been drinking. I will sometimes see her eating a little bit of hay, but she has been spending the majority of the day sleeping inside of the hidey pocket. :(
Sorry to bother you all with this.
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
It was sort of a ball of really wet, sticky poop (not diarrhoea, though).
I can't really tell if she is eating enough hay. She ate her veggies tonight and has been drinking. I will sometimes see her eating a little bit of hay, but she has been spending the majority of the day sleeping inside of the hidey pocket. :(
Sorry to bother you all with this.
Click to expand...

don’t be sorry to bother us we are here and happy to help!

Eating veg is not enough - it only makes up 15% of their daily diet. And nibbling on hay is very deceptive - she needs to be eating 80% of her daily food intake as hay, so if she is only nibbling at bits every now and then then she likely isn’t eating enough. Do start weighing her daily (you can’t gauge hay intake by eye, it has to be done by weighing piggy, any drops in weight mean not enough hay in) and syringe feed.
 
UPDATE:
We made an emergency appointment with the vet this morning.
She did an examination of Stubbins and determined that she had no food in her stomach.
She will be staying at the vet's office for a few more hours, where they will give her fluids.
We have been prescribed:
1. A pain medication.
2. A medication that will help move food through her stomach.
3. 0.12 CC's of Critical Care every 3 hours (can someone please help me with this).465BD390-C4CA-45E8-8883-5A067F949A33.webp
4. No antibiotics for 24 hours.
5. No veggies for 24 hours.
I do not know the names of the medications, but can someone please advise me on how to use Critical Care? I ordered these online and received two different packages (picture attached). Are they the same?
Thank you! :)
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
Thank you!
So both packages are the same even though the labels are different? :)
The directions on the back are the same, I was just confused about the packaging.
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Looks to be the same really - the only difference I can see is that one of them is written in French
 
Piggies&buns said:
Looks to be the same really - the only difference I can see is that one of them is written in French
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That is funny! I did not even notice! :)
I am really worried about Stubbins and really want her to come back home. :(
The vet loves guinea pigs, though. I know she is in good hands.
I put a hidey and same toys in her carrier in case she gets bored. :))
 
Hi! :)
We picked up Stubbins from the vet. :)
She slept for about one hour when we arrived home.
I had three questions:
1. Should I feed her the pain medication and the medication that will help move food through her stomach before syringe feeding her? (I can attach the names if necessary).
2. Since being home, she has started eating a little bit of hay. Does this mean that she is in pain, but eating because she is super hungry? Should I still syringe feed her?
3. Should I syringe feed her during the night?
I prepared the Critical Care and am planning on giving 5 mL's every 3 hours.
Any help is appreciated!
Thank you for your support! :)
 
Stubbins has sent me on an emotional rollercoaster.
We came home from the vet, and after taking two medications, everything seemed great. Although she still refused any pellets (which are usually her favorite), she was eating hay and drinking water.
Tonight, she is no longer eating.
My mom and I were able to syringe feed her 5 mL's of Critical Care, and then 3 mL's 2 hours later (just now).
She has been refusing to eat the Critical Care, though.
I have tried putting it on veggies, pellets, and even hay, but nothing has worked.
I am so worried.
Half of the Critical Care ends up on myself, my mom, and her because she will not swallow the mixture.
She has been in her hidey pocket for the past three hours. :(
I am praying and hoping that she gets better.
I am going to wake myself up at 1:00 a.m. to feed her another round of medication and try to syringe feed her on my own.
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
Hi! :)
We picked up Stubbins from the vet. :)
She slept for about one hour when we arrived home.
I had three questions:
1. Should I feed her the pain medication and the medication that will help move food through her stomach before syringe feeding her? (I can attach the names if necessary).
2. Since being home, she has started eating a little bit of hay. Does this mean that she is in pain, but eating because she is super hungry? Should I still syringe feed her?
3. Should I syringe feed her during the night?
I prepared the Critical Care and am planning on giving 5 mL's every 3 hours.
Any help is appreciated!
Thank you for your support! :)
Click to expand...

What did the vet say about the meds? We can’t comment on that as the vet will have prescribed them

Yes you need to syringe feed her. Nibbling on hay isn’t enough. She needs to be eating loads of it, enough so she can maintain her weight before you stop syringing. Example - id you feel she is better and is eating more and you stop syringing but then her weight drops, then she clearly still isn’t eating enough.

Yes syringe through the night. If you don’t and she doesn’t eat for herself, then she will just get worse. You’ll see a drop in her weight in the morning if you haven’t syringed and she hasn’t eaten for herself

Give her however much of the critical care she will take in each sitting. Don’t give 5ml and stop, if she wants to take 20ml. Again, her weight will drop if she isn’t getting enough. Now, with poorly piggies you may only get a couple of ml in in one go so it means you may have to feed more often than every 3 hours. You are aiming for 40-60ml in a 24 hour period but you’ll only know if you are giving her enough by her weight - weigh her every day at the same time so you can see what is happening. If her weight is dropping, then she isn’t eating enough syringe feed or hay for herself between your syinege feeds
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
Stubbins has sent me on an emotional rollercoaster.
We came home from the vet, and after taking two medications, everything seemed great. Although she still refused any pellets (which are usually her favorite), she was eating hay and drinking water.
Tonight, she is no longer eating.
My mom and I were able to syringe feed her 5 mL's of Critical Care, and then 3 mL's 2 hours later (just now).
She has been refusing to eat the Critical Care, though.
I have tried putting it on veggies, pellets, and even hay, but nothing has worked.
I am so worried.
Half of the Critical Care ends up on myself, my mom, and her because she will not swallow the mixture.
She has been in her hidey pocket for the past three hours. :(
I am praying and hoping that she gets better.
I am going to wake myself up at 1:00 a.m. to feed her another round of medication and try to syringe feed her on my own.
Click to expand...

Don’t worry about the pellets, it’s hay and critical care she needs.
Are you putting the syringe into her mouth properly?
 
Did you see my reply at post #23. It’s just that your second post come in at the same time as I was typing it so just wanted to make sure you had seen it regarding the meds and how much and how often to syringe

There is this video which TEAS made which is very good for showing syringing. Have a look at it, just to double check you are getting the syringe in enough Today's instructional video on our Facebook page - Syringe feeding
 
Piggies&buns said:
Did you see my reply at post #23. It’s just that your second post come in at the same time as I was typing it so just wanted to make sure you had seen it regarding the meds and how much and how often to syringe
Click to expand...
Oh, yes. Thank you so much! :)
I am just worried about feeding her Critical Care throughout the night. I tried on my own and nothing really went in. I am a bit worried about waking up my mom at 1:00 a.m. and then 4:00 a.m. :(
 
I went to go spy on my piggies just now (as one does when they can't fall asleep :))), and Stubbins was eating hay. Not just nibbling, but (quite aggressively, I might add), pulling hay out of the hay rack and munching away. :yahoo:
 
Mo & Stubbins & Vani said:
I went to go spy on my piggies just now (as one does when they can't fall asleep :))), and Stubbins was eating hay. Not just nibbling, but (quite aggressively, I might add), pulling hay out of the hay rack and munching away. :yahoo:
Click to expand...

That’s good! Don’t let it deceive you though, keep an eye on her weight closely and continue to syringe
 
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